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Ecocentric Blog ]

water resources

Swimmable Water Weekend is a laudable Waterkeeper Alliance initiative that seeks to get people out to their favorite swimming hole, lake or beach and take the plunge for clean water. Don't miss out on their photo contest with an exciting prize package (including a GoPro camera)!

When you find yourself in Las Vegas during the sweltering, 108-degree heat of the summer, is there a better way to beat the heat than to head to the sweltering, 125-degree heat of Hoover Dam? That's just what one of our staff members did recently. Check out her photos of the dam and of a rapidly declining Lake Mead.

Ok, so maybe there is no nonprofit called SkipShowersForBeef.com, but the Yes Men stunt does raise an important discussion about the vast amount of water involved in beef production. Here we add to that discussion -- if you eat beef, which kind of beef you choose makes a big difference.

Like parents reviewing their kids' report cards, politicians pay attention to grades. The Long Island Sound report card "makes it clear that while progress has been made to improve the water quality of the Sound, more must be done to preserve this economic engine and local treasure's waters and coastline," says New York Congressman Steve Israel.

There is very little that goes untouched by climate change. While not the biggest threat posed by rising global temperatures, the future of hockey itself is at stake. Here, we look at the NHL's noteworthy response: they've become a sustainability leader in professional sports.

Drought remains an all-too-common news story in the US but the silver lining is that a growing number of people are curious about how they can cut back on their water waste, and in many cases are willing to think outside the box to do it. Enter the water footprint.

According to the EPA, household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide, so each spring they ask everyone to take a week and hunt down the drips and streams of wasted water. Fix-a-Leak Week is March 16-22, and it's a great time to find and fix your leaks so you can save valuable water and money all year long.

We know Valentine's Day isn't everyone's cup of tea. But who doesn't like love - for yourself, your partner, your friends and yes, the Earth? Here are 8 great ways to celebrate that don't involve lots of cash, plastic junk or greeting card companies.

It's Super Bowl time again, sports fans! This year, we have a new goal: make our Super Bowl parties the greenest they've ever been. Here are a few ideas to mull as the big day approaches - whether you're a diehard Seattle Seahawks OR New England Patriots fan.

Love water? Hunting for a new job? You might be able to make a splash with a career in water protection. Our need for water and wastewater management is only going to grow. Whether you're a scientist, an advocate, a writer or an accountant, you'll be needed!

Judi Shils and Erin Schrode are the mother-daughter dynamos behind Teens Turning Green, which has helped thousands of high school and college/university students around the world organize around sustainability issues. TTG's marquis project is the "Project Green Challenge", a 30-day event each October that inspires participants and spreads the word about eco-consciousness.

Katharine Hayhoe is a climate scientist whom we first came to know after she appeared in the Emmy-winning climate doc Years of Living Dangerously. Her scientific know-how and engaging demeanor make for a winning combo as she reaches out to faith-based communities who haven't always been a part of the environmental movement.

Journalist Stephen Leahy's new book about water footprints is a great introduction to the mysterious world of virtual water. We recently asked him about how he became interested in water footprints, his suggestions for what readers can do and how his own water footprint measures up.

The Obama Administration's ramp-up of fossil fuel exports is at odds with its push for a global climate deal. It also presents a real threat to our already strained water resources. Here's a sustainable solution: Integrated energy-water-climate policies that drive low-carbon, low-water technologies and initiatives.

"What is wrong with us? What is really preventing us from putting out the fire that is threatening to burn down our collective house?" asks Naomi Klein early in This Changes Everything. Her new book on the relationship between climate change and capitalism is a must-read, smart and feisty call to action.